Capitol Correspondent, Orange County Register
Capitol Correspondent for the Orange County Register
PROFILE
Brian Joseph
Guest
FROM Brian Joseph
Which Way, L.A.?
Politicians Waiting to Cash in on Special Interest Pledges With hundreds of bills to be voted on, the last week of the legislative session means chaos in Sacramento, and with hundreds of lobbyists on the scene, it's also the best time for legislators to raise money. To reveal any possible connection between votes cast and money raised, contributions are supposed to be reported in 24 hours. But the reports today on what could be a new scheme to avoid public scrutiny.
Which Way, L.A.?
Capitol Chaos A lot of Democrats who had reservations held their noses today as the State Senate passed Mayor Villaraigosa's proposal for partial takeover of LA schools . Next up is the Assembly, which is likely to go along, too. But that's just part of the madness that reigns in the last week of this legislative session with 500 bills to be acted on--some of them really important--between now and adjournment on Thursday. We'll look at how chaos becomes business as usual at the send of a legislative session and how bills passed by several committees are completely transformed and still get votes from legislators who've never read them.
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To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.